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I was born on the far Eastern edge of the Eastfold south of the Falls of Rauros, on the west side of the Great River. My father, Aedelstan, was killed at the Battle of Pelennor Fields. I’ve never known exactly how he died, but when the men of the Eotheod returned, they brought his bow with them, and told my mother that he had died bravely, fighting the Mumakil. Even with my father gone, my mother, Eadhild, didn’t give up, despite having three children to feed and raise. Living as close to the Nindalf as we did wasn’t an easy life for cattle farmers, but with the help of the Eastern Eored we kept the orcs at bay. I am the middle child of three daughters, my sisters being Heresuid and Wynflaed. My mother claims (rightly or wrongly, I’ve never found out) distant kinship with the folk of Dol Amroth, in which the Elven blood runs true. When I was born, with dark hair instead of the usual blonde, my mother declared that the Elven blood of her ancestors was in my veins, and named me Eledhwyn, which means "Elfsheen". The life of a cattle farmer never appealed to me, and I lived for the raids on the orc nests to the East of us. Of all my family I am the shortest and the most lightly built, and so discovered the joy of mounted combat. When I fight mounted upon my Deorcscur, the strength and height I use are his, and I am the equal of any man who may defeat me on the ground. I became a skilled mounted archer, and served as Paethfindian to the Eored. Finally I made my decision to make the long journey to Edoras, to join the King’s Guard. I have been accepted to train in the cavalry and am currently in line for my training assignment. I can’t wait to prove my worth before the Eored of Meduseld and hope that I will make my father proud. His bow won’t be dishonoured in my hands. |